To You Beloved Comrade

By Paul Robeson, reprinted in Northstar Compass, October
2003

There is no richer store of human experience than the folk tales, folk
poems and songs of a people. In many, the heroes are always fully
recognizable humans—only larger and more embracing in
dimension. So it is with the Russian, Chinese and the Africa
folk-lore.

In 1937, a highly expectant audience of Moscow citizens—workers,
artists, youth, farmers, from surrounding towns—crowded into the
Bolshoi Theatre. They awaited the performance by the Uzbek National
Theater, headed by the highly gifted Tamara Khanum. The orchestra was
a large one, with instruments both ancient and modern.

How exciting would be the blending of the music of the rich culture of
composers Moussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Gliere, Prokofiev, Shostakovich,
Khrennikov, with that of the beautiful music of the Uzbeks, stemming
from an old and proud civilization. Suddenly, everyone stood up, began
to applaud, to cheer, to smile. The children waved. In a box to the
right—smiling and applauding back to the audience—stood
the great Stalin.

I remember that the tears began to flow and I too smiled and
waved. Here was clearly a man who seemed to embrace all. So
kindly—I can never forget that warm feeling of kindliness and
also a feeling of sureness. Here was one who was wise and
good—the world and especially the socialist world was fortunate
indeed to have his daily guidance. I lifted high my son Pauli to wave
to this world leader, and his leader. For Paul Jr. had entered school
in Moscow, in the land of the Soviets.

The wonderful performance began, unfolding new delights at every
turn-ensemble and individual, vocal and orchestral, classic and folk
dancing of amazing originality. Could it be possible that a few years
before in 1900–1915—these people had been
semi-serfs—their cultural expression forbidden, their rich
heritage almost lost under the Tsarist oppression’s heel?

So here one witnessed in the field of the arts—a culture,
national in form, socialist in content. Here was a people, quite
comparable to some tribal folk in Asia—quite comparable to the
proud Yorubs or Basuto of West and East Africa, but now their lives
flowering anew within the socialist way of life, twenty years matured
under the guidance of Lenin and Stalin. And in this whole area of
development of national minorities—of their relation to the
Great Russians—Stalin has played and was playing a decisive
role.

I was later to travel—to see with my own eyes what could happen
to so-called backward peoples. In the West (in England, in Belgium,
France, Portugal, Holland)—the Africans, the Indians (East and
West), any of the Asian people were considered so backward that
centuries, perhaps, would have to pass before these so-called modern
so called “colonials” could become part of society.

But in the Soviet Union, Yakuts, Nenetses, Kirgiz, Tadzhiks—had
respect and were helped to advance with unbelievable rapidity in this
socialist land. No empty promises, such as colored folks continuously
hear in the United States, but deeds. For example, the transforming of
the desert in Uzbekistan into blooming acres of cotton. And an old
friend of mine, Mr. Golden, trained under the Carver at Tuskegee,
played a prominent role in cotton production. In 1949, I saw his
daughter, now grown up and in the university—a proud Soviet
citizen.

Today in Korea—in Southeast Asia—in Latin America and the
West Indies, in the Middle East—in Africa, one sees tens of
millions of long oppressed colonial peoples surging towards
freedom. What courage—what sacrifice—what determination
never to rest until victory! And arrayed against them, the combined
powers of the so-called Free West, headed by the greedy,
profit-hungry, war-minded industrialists and financial barons of our
America. The illusion of an “American Century” blinds them
for the immediate present to the clear fact that civilization has
passed them by—that we now live in a people’s century—that
the star shines brightly in the East of Europe and of the word.

Colonial peoples today look to the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics. They see how under the great Stalin millions like
themselves have found a new life. They see that aided and guided by
the example of the Soviet Union, led by their Mao Tse-tung, a new
China adds its mighty power to the true and expanding socialist way of
life. They see former semi-colonial Eastern European nations building
new People’s Democracies, based upon the people’s power, with the
people shaping their own destinies. So much of this progress sterns
from the magnificent leadership, theoretical and practical, given by
their friend Joseph Stalin.

They have sung—sing now and will sing his praise—in song
and story. Slava-Slava-Slava-Stalin, Glory to Stalin. Forever will his
name be honored and beloved in all lands.

In all spheres of modern life the influence of Stalin reaches wide and
deep. From his last and simply written but vastly discerning and
comprehensive document, back through all of the years, his
contributions to science of our world society remain invaluable. One
reverently speaks of Marx, Engels Lenin and Stalin—the shapers
of humanity’s richest present and future.

Yes, through his deep humanity, by his wise understanding, he leaves
us a rich and monumental heritage. Most importantly—he has
charted the direction of our present and future struggles. He has
pointed the way to peace—to friendly co-existence—to the
exchange of mutual scientific and cultural contributions—to the
end if war ad destruction. How consistently, how patiently, he labored
for peace and ever—increasing abundance, with that deep kindness
and wisdom.

He leaves tens of millions all over the earth bowed in heart-aching
grief.

But, as he well knew, the struggle continues. So, inspired by his
noble example, let us lift our heads slowly but proudly high and march
forward in the fight for peace—for a rich and rewarding life for
all.

In the inspired words of Lewis Allan, our progressive lyricist-

To you our Beloved Comrade Stalin, we make this solemn vow:
The fight will go on—the fight will still go on.
Sleep well, Beloved Comrade, our work will just begin.
The fight will go on—till we win—until we win!